"Are you okay?" Roman asked. Virgil jumped slightly and looked at him.

"Yeah, I'm fine." His small smile faded a little. "Why?"

Roman shrugged. "I was just worried, that's all. You haven't talked much."

Virgil hugged his elbows and sighed. "I guess I'm just a little sad, that's all."

"Care to elaborate why?" Roman asked. Virgil laughed.

"Your way with words, Princey." He said, laughing. His laughter faded into the air as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess it's just cause it's the last night of the ball, you know? Thought I wouldn't feel this sad about it."

"What's changed?" Roman asked. Virgil smiled in spite of himself. Roman was always so kind to him, so careful and caring...

"Get it together, Virgil." He told himself firmly. "He's a prince, you're barely a noble."

"I guess meeting you changed things." Virgil said. "You're so nice and I guess I've grown rather fond in a short space of time."

"Fond of me?" Roman asked, as if he needed clarification. Virgil laughed quietly and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess." He said, rubbing the back of his neck again and blushing.

Roman felt for Virgil's hand by his side and took it gently.

"I'm fond of you too." He said quietly. Virgil smiled.

"I'm glad." He said, just as quietly.

There didn't seem much point in being quiet, they were alone in the gardens. However, speaking any louder might break whatever spell seemed to have been cast over the two.

Virgil looked at Roman and hesitated on what he was going to ask, running his thumb over Roman's knuckles. Roman laughed quietly and lowly.

"Doing some memorising of your own?" He asked. His voice was just above a whisper now.

"I guess." Why did Virgil seem so stuck on that phrase?

He took a deep breath and let it out in a quiet sigh, trying to slow the speed of his heart beats.

"Hey, um, can I kiss you?" Virgil asked quietly.

Roman felt his face blush. "Yeah, sure." His voice was barely a whisper.

Carefully, Virgil cupped Roman's face and kissed him gently. Roman kissed him back softly, neither of them making any moves to deepen the kiss. They were both just happy with this soft, careful kiss.

Bubbles seemed to rise in Virgil's chest because he was kissing a prince! He - Virgil Summers, disgraced son - was kissing Prince Roman, future king of the land. That was when it hit him and all the bubbles in his chest evaporated.

Virgil pulled back in shock. He couldn't kiss a prince, that was stupid.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Roman asked. And then, a little quieter and more worried: "Did I overstep?"

"What? No, no, you didn't." Virgil assured him. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's just me, I'm just an idiot."

"You're not." Roman said.

"No, Princey, you don't..." Virgil sighed, confused and annoyed in himself. "Look, tonight's the last night of the ball. Which means I'll never see you again."

"But you could always come back." Roman said hopefully. "Through the forest. And-"

"No, Roman." Virgil shook his head. "Look, I'm really sorry. Kissing you was a mistake, I'm never going to be able to see you again. Don't you understand that? I can't come back here, ever. And you can't ever come looking for me. Ever again."

"Why not?" Roman asked and, although he tried to hide it, he sounded hurt.

"Because... it's just complicated." Virgil said. He ran a hand through his hair. "I won't be able to see you. The ball was my only excuse, the only time I'm in the house alone. I'm not even meant to be here, let alone with you." His hand slipped out of Roman's and he hugged his elbows. "I'm really sorry. About kissing you, about meeting you, about messing everything up."

"Hey, Vee." Roman's hand searched for Virgil's. "You haven't messed anything up. Nothing about meeting you has messed anything up. I'm so glad I met you when I did. And if I can't ever meet you again, for whatever reason, we'll just have to make the most of this meeting as our last." Roman smiled a small smile at Virgil and Virgil tried to return it with one of his own.

Roman's hand found Virgil's and he clasped it, afraid of letting go. "Stay with me, please." He said, letting the fear of losing Virgil slip into his voice. "Stay with me past midnight, til the dawn."

Virgil shook his head. "I can't." He said. "You wouldn't be fond of me by dawn light."

"Why not?" Roman asked, tilting his head slightly.

"The way I look, the way I dress..." Virgil trailed off, biting his thumb-nail. "It's not like how I am now."

"Who am I to care?" Roman asked. "I won't be able to see, anyway."

This chapter gave me many, many happy stims. I hope you like it.
Bye,
Blaize